Crank-holder for explosive-engines.



A. E. CLARK.

CRANK HOLDER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1918.

1,292,256, Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

f ilifizformg/J Z y W ARTHUR E. CLARK, OF VILLARD, MINNESOTA.

CRANK-HOLDER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Application filed March 23, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Villard, in the county of Pope and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crank-Holders for Explosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an extremely simple and highly efficient starting crank holder for explosive engines, intended for general use, but especially adapted for Ford automobiles.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the starting crank holder;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the running gear and frame of a Ford automobile, having the invention applied thereto, with the starting crank released;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, with some parts shown in different positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, with the exception that the starting crank isheld by the improved holder; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts as shown in Fig. 4.

Of the parts of the Ford automobile illustrated, for the purpose of showing the in vention applied in working position, it is only necessary to note the front transverse frame member 6, front axle 7 front transverse leaf spring 8, engine crank shaft 9, starting crank 10, and cooperating normally separated half clutches 11, for connecting the starting crank to the engine crank shaft. The frame member 6 is in the form of an inverted channel and the intermediate portion of the spring 8 is mounted therein and rigidly secured thereto by a pair of U-shaped clips 12. The starting crank 10 is rotatively mounted in a bearing 13, with freedom for Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 224,265.

axial movement toward the engine crank shaft 9, to connect and disconnect the clutch members 11. This bearing 13 rests upon the top of the frame member 6 and is rigidly secured thereto by the clips 12. It is important to note that the formation of the clips 12 is such that where they pass under the lower edges of the flanges of the frame member 6 they are curved downward therefrom and leave front and rear alined pairs of apertures 14. The parts thus far described are of standard construction, and, as far as the applicant is aware, all models of Ford automobiles are provided with clips of the same formation as those illustrated in the drawings.

The form of the improved crank holder, as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises a resilient arm 15, having a pair of oppositely projecting alined trunnions 16, connected to the arm 15 by coiled spring sections 17. The free end of the arm 15 has an offset extension 18 that is curved to form a seat 19 for the starting crank 10. Preferably, as shown, the improved starting crank holder is formed from a single piece of spring wire, and is connected to the frame by inserting the trunnions 16 in the front alined pair of apertures 14,-. This is accomplished by drawing the members of the arm 15 together, so that the trunnions 16 will pass between the clips 12, and then releasing said members when said trunnions are in alinement with the front pair of apertures 14. It will thus be seen that the starting crank holder is connected to the frame memher 6, with freedom for vertical swinging V movement longitudinally of the automobile.

To prevent the trunnions 16 from being detached from the clips 12, the outer ends thereof are bent, as shown in Fig. 2.

The trunnions 16 are loosely held in the apertures 14 so that the crank holder is free to swing downward under the action of gravity and against the front axle 7, as shown in Fig. 2. With the crank holder in this position the operator may manipulate the crank 10 to start the engine without having his hands hurt by coming in contact with said holder, as the same is entirely out of the path of the movement of the crank. Then the crank 10 is not being used, for the purpose of starting the engine, the same is yieldingly held in an upright position and out of clutch with the engine crank shaft 9 by the crank holder, as shown by broken Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

linesin Fig. 3, and by full lines in Figs. 4 v .and 5.

To secure the starting crank 10 by the improved erank holder, said holder is first lifted toward the crank, into substantially a horizontal position. l/Vith the crank holder in this position, an upward movement of the crank, toward the left, will engage the arm and raise the same. During this raising movement of the arm 15 its springs 17 come in contact with the framemember 6, as a base of resistance, and thereby place said arm under tension. A further movement of the starting crank 10 will cam the free end of the resilient arm 15 out of its path of movement and permit said crank to pass said arm and enter the seat 19 in the extension 18,, which is oil'set in the direction of the rotation of the start ing crank to start the engine. 'VVith the crank holder thus interlocked with the starting crank 10, said crank is yieldingly held in an upright position and held out of clutch with the engine crank shaft. y

In cranking the engine, the initial movement of the starting crank 10 will free itself from the crank holder, thus allowing said holder to drop, under the action of gravity, out of theway of the starting crank and into a position as shown by full lines in Fig. 3. While the holder, as illustrated, projects below the axle 7, when not in use, it need only be of such length as to extend to the under surface thereof.

The above described invention, while extremely simple and of small cost to manufacture, has, in actual usage, proven highly eflicient for the purpose had in view. It is also evident that the holder can be very quickly applied to a Ford automobile by the use of the standard parts thereof. It is, of course, understood that on different makes of automobiles the improved holder will have to be designed and attached in various difierent ways.

What I claim is:

1. A crank holder-for explosive engines, comprising a yieldingly pressed arm, hav- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

ing an extension offset in the direction of the rotation of the crank to start the engine, said extension having a seat adapted to yieldingly hold the crank and release the same by a movement of the crank to start the engine.

2. A crank holder for explosive engines, comprising a yieldingly pressed arm arranged to engage and yieldingly hold a crank, said arm, when released from the the other, and at which time the arm cn-' gagesthe frame and 1s thereby placed under tension to yield'ingly hold the starting crank. I

4t. The combination with a frame,a bear-- ing on top of the frame, a pair of clips connecting the bearing to the frame, and a starting crank for an explosive engine journaled in said bearing, of a resilient arm having trunnions 'rcmovably mounted in apertures between the frame and clips, by endwise movement said arm tending to hang downward under the actlon of gravity and having at its free end an offsetextension with a seat, said arm, when held upward, engages the frame and is thereby placed under tension, in which position of the arm the starting crank, when turned upward, is forced into said seat and yieldingly held by the arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. CLARK.

Witnesses: 7

HULDA LIEDER, HARRY D. KI'LeoRE.

Washington, 1D. 63. 

